Travel

The Ultimate ‘Twin Peaks’ Road Trip

Get ready for the rebooted show's Sunday debut with this mini tour.

By Elaina Friedman May 19, 2017

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Where: Snoqualmie and North Bend, about a 30-minute drive east of Seattle.

Why: To prepare for the May 21 Showtime reboot of Twin Peaks, the 1990–1991 show that made University of Washington grad Kyle MacLachlan (aka Special Agent Dale Cooper) famous, by checking off some of the immortal series’ landmarks on your bucket list. (Or simply to take a scenic Northwest drive while treating your loved ones to your Agent Cooper impression: “Diane, I’m entering the town of Twin Peaks.”)

Start your tour: The first stop is the show’s Great Northern Hotel, otherwise known as the Salish Lodge and Spa (Snoqualmie, 6501 Railroad Ave.; 425.888.2556; salishlodge.com). Gaze upon the iconic opening-credits backdrop from the Snoqualmie Falls upper viewpoint, a short walk from the lodge (the hotel’s interior shots seen in Twin Peaks are from Poulsbo’s Kiana Lodge). Ask for a table by the window at the elegant Salish Lodge Dining Room or at the more casual Attic for a lovely view of the falls. Afterward, head northeast to the Northwest Railway Museum (Snoqualmie, 38625 SE King St.; 425.888.3030; trainmuseum.org) to check out the old trains among which Laura Palmer was murdered. Travel through the 19th-century train yards and learn about the history of Snoqualmie’s railroads on a free tour.

Next stop: Reinig Bridge (396th Street and SE Reinig Road)—the infamous train trestle where Ronette Pulaski emerged in a daze the morning after Laura was killed. The bridge boasts a great view of Mount Si, with a paved pathway for walking and biking, and a swimming hole below. From there, head up 396th Drive SE to the DirtFish Rally School and Rally Museum (Snoqualmie, 7001 396th Drive SE)—formerly a Weyerhaeuser office—the site of the Twin Peaks sheriff’s station, where Special Agent Cooper and Sheriff Truman ate so many doughnuts together.

Just past the school, you’ll see the smokestack of the defunct Weyerhaeuser mill, the location of the Packard Sawmill, run by elegantly murderous Josie Packard (Joan Chen). While the mill closed for good in 2003, you can still drive through the abandoned site. Return to SE Reinig Road for about a half mile to arrive at your second-to-last stop: the site of Twin Peaks’ welcoming sign (41433 SE Reinig Road). The sign is gone, but the view of Mount Si and the forest-lined road are as emblematic of the show as ever, and there’s a clearing on the right where you can pull your car over. Take advantage of a prime photo op and listen to the wind through the pines.

A Fitting End: Wrap up your trip at the Double R Diner, known in our world as Twede’s Café (North Bend, 137 W North Bend Way; 425.831.5511; twedescafe.com) about 3 miles west of your previous stop. The café was temporarily transformed back into the Double R for the Twin Peaks reboot—equipped with wood-paneled walls and red neon ceiling lights. While the café has been returned to its former state for the most part, the small-town charm remains (as does a “Welcome to Twin Peaks” mural painted on the back of the building). Enjoy a slice of cherry pie and a cup of coffee. We hear it’s damn fine.

 

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